Promoting American understanding of Russian folklore and traditional Russian life and culture.

Folklore expeditions -- what's the point?

Painted church in Arbore, Romania

tea time -Bryansk province, Russia

The immediate point, of course, is to record songs and stories and beliefs and rituals and clothing and local architecture, and to get those records into a scholarly archive. While we still can.

The longer-term point is to grow out. We all grow up inside a cultural bubble, learning how to dance and drive and entertain a baby without thinking much about it. But step out of your comfort zone and you'll see patterns and variations you never noticed before. You'll start to sense the vastness of your human heritage.

Our folklore expeditions take you places you're not likely to get to on your own. Translators help everyone to communicate. Scholars in folklore and anthropology share their thoughts as they strive to absorb the meanings of a local ghost story or a painted church wall. You'll learn things you never knew you never knew. And you'll grow.

Path by Lake Baikal

Siberian garmonist

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American Friends of Russian Folklore is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation and a 501(c)(3) organization.Tax I.D. No. 26-0294873.